Chess Plus is played by two opponents on opposite sides of a board, which contains 64 squares of alternating colours. Each player starts the game with 18 pieces: 1 King (K), 3 Queens (Q), 2 Rooks (R), 2 Bishops (B), 2 Knights (Kn) and 8 Pawns (P). During play each player has the ability to create and split new pieces called merged pieces (see About Merged Pieces below The goal of the game is to checkmate the other opponent's king. Checkmate occurs when a king is in a position to be captured (in check) and cannot escape from capture.